With Willie Mullins having already taken the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle with the incredibly impressive Vautour, Champagne Fever was unsurprisingly popular with punters to complete a double.

Everything appeared to be going well for most of the two-mile contest, with Champagne Fever fencing immaculately, but few would have expected the Pipe-trained Western Warhorse to still be in with a shout on the run-in and he mastered the Irish raider under a jubilant Scudamore.

Irish Arkle hero Trifolium ran well in third without being able to match the front two after the final obstacle.

The major disappointment of the race was 2012 Champion Hurdle hero Rock On Ruby, runner-up behind Hurricane Fly in last year's Champion.

He made a shuddering error at the third fence and Noel Fehily did remarkably well to keep the partnership intact.

However, he was soon back-pedalling and never looked likely to land a telling blow.

Pipe said: "He's been point-to-pointing in Ireland and jumped well at Doncaster, so even though he'd only had one run over fences, it wasn't a real worry.

"What happened at Kempton when he dumped Tom Scudamore may have been a blessing.

"Roger (Brookhouse, owner) wanted to run him in this, but I wanted to go for a nice handicap somewhere, so it's a good job Roger got his way.

"He's always shown lots of ability and the drop back in trip has suited.

"Tom has given him a really canny ride, because I told him to bounce out and make the running, but they were going a stride too quick, so he just dropped in."

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